AUGUSTA – The Department of Human Services is offering a new service to order water test kits over the Internet.

The kits can be used to test well water. Forty-three percent of Mainers rely on private wells for their drinking water. State health officials suggest that private well owners test their water every year for bacteria and nutrients, and every three to five years for contaminants such as arsenic, radon and uranium.

Kits can be purchased at www.state.me.us/dhs/etl/mtbe.htm. They cost between $50 and $70. For information, go to www.state.me.us/dhs/etl/standard.htm.